Method and Apparatus for Detection of Hazardous Environmental Conditions and Initiation of Alarm Devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically determining a hazardous environmental condition within a container, such as a vehicle, and initiating alarm devices. In one embodiment, temperature, motion, acoustic, and pressure sensors in a vehicle output sensor signals to associated sensor threshold monitors. When a sensor threshold is exceeded, a sensor threshold monitor sends a threshold signal to a sensor collection logic device. The sensor collection logic device determines whether to initiate an alarm process based on whether the threshold signals indicated a hazardous environmental condition within the vehicle. In one embodiment, upon a determination to initiate the alarm process, the sensor collection logic device sends an alarm signal to an alarm processor which automatically initiates output signals to alarm devices, such as an audible alarm. In some embodiments, the output signals can further automatically unlock doors of the vehicle, retract windows of the vehicle, and automatically notify emergency personnel, such as police and emergency responders, of the location of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus to automatically detect hazardous environmental conditions within a container and initiate alarm devices comprising:
 one or more sensors that detect environmental conditions within a container, each of said one or more sensors configured to output a sensor signal to an associated sensor threshold monitor;   one or more sensor threshold monitors, each of said one or more sensor threshold monitors connected to an associated one of said one or more sensors, each of said one or more sensor threshold monitors for determining when an associated environmental condition exceeds an associated sensor threshold value and for sending an associated threshold signal to a sensor collection device;   a sensor collection logic device connected to each of said one or more sensor threshold monitors, said sensor collection device configured to receive each said threshold signal, said sensor collection device further for outputting an alarm signal to an alarm processor device when a hazardous environmental condition within said container is determined; and   an alarm processor device connected to said sensor collection logic device, said alarm processor device for automatically generating and outputting one or more output signals to one or more associated alarm devices based on said alarm signal.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said one or more sensors comprise:
 a temperature sensor for detecting temperature within said container; 
 a movement sensor for detecting movement within said container; 
 an acoustic sensor for detecting sound within said container; and 
 a pressure sensor, for detecting pressure at a location within said container. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said one or more sensor threshold monitors comprise:
 a temperature sensor threshold monitor connected to said temperature sensor; 
 a movement sensor threshold monitor connected to said movement sensor; 
 an acoustic sensor threshold monitor connected to said acoustic sensor; and 
 a pressure sensor threshold monitor connected to said pressure sensor. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said sensor collection device is a four input AND gate device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said alarm processor device is connected to at least one of a group consisting of an audible alarm mechanism, a door lock mechanism, a window retraction mechanism, a headlight mechanism, a communication device, and a tail light mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said alarm processor device is connected to a location position system. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said container is a vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . A method to automatically detect hazardous environmental conditions within a container and initiate alarm devices comprising:
 detecting one or more environmental conditions within a container at one or more sensors;   outputting a sensor signal from each of said one or more sensors to one or more associated sensor threshold monitors based on said environmental conditions;   receiving each of said sensor signals at said one or more associated sensor threshold monitors;   determining at each of said one or more associated sensor threshold monitors whether an associated sensor signal exceeds an associated predetermined sensor threshold level;   upon a determination that a sensor signal exceeds said associated predetermined sensor threshold level, outputting a threshold signal from said associated sensor threshold monitor to a sensor collection logic device;   receiving one or more threshold signals at said sensor collection logic device;   determining whether to output an alarm signal to an alarm processor based on when said one or more threshold signals received at said sensor collection logic device indicate a hazardous environmental condition within said container;   upon a determination to output an alarm signal, automatically outputting an alarm signal to said alarm processor;   receiving said alarm signal at said alarm processor; and   outputting one or more output signals to one or more alarm devices.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said alarm processor automatically outputs one or more output signals to at least one of a group consisting of an audible alarm mechanism, a door lock mechanism, a window retraction mechanism, a headlight mechanism, a communication device, and a tail light mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said alarm processor is connected to a location position system, and
 further wherein said alarm processor obtains the location of said container from said location position system and automatically includes said location in one or more output signals to said communication system. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said container is a vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said receiving one or more threshold signals at said sensor collection device comprises:
 receiving a temperature sensor threshold signal indicating a temperature above a threshold level within said container; 
 receiving a movement sensor threshold signal indicating movement within said container; 
 receiving an acoustic sensor threshold signal indicating sound within said container; and 
 receiving a pressure sensor threshold signal indicating pressure at a location within said container. 
 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for detecting one or more environmental conditions within a vehicle;   means for determining when said one or more of said environmental conditions pose a potentially hazardous condition within said vehicle;   means for determining whether to automatically initiate an alarm process based on a determination that said one or more of said environmental conditions pose a potentially hazardous condition; and   means for automatically initiating said alarm process when a determination is made to automatically initiate said alarm process.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising:
 means for automatically obtaining a position location of said vehicle; and 
 means for automatically sending an emergency notification, said emergency notification comprising:
 notification of a hazardous situation in said vehicle; and 
 said location of said vehicle.